1690.] RETREAT OF THE VICTORS. 219 



friends on the late disaster. " We are come," 

 said their orator, " with tears in our eyes, to 

 lament the murders committed at Schenectady 

 by the perfidious French. Onontio comes to our 

 country to speak of peace, but war is at his heart. 

 He has broken into our house at both ends, once 

 among the Senecas and once here ; but we hope 

 to be revenged. Brethren, our covenant with 

 you is a silver chain that cannot rust or break. We 

 are of the race of the bear ; and the bear does not 

 yield, so long as there is a drop of blood in his 

 body. Let us all be bears. We will go together 

 with an army to ruin the country of the French. 

 Therefore, send in all haste to New England. 

 Let them be ready with ships and great guns to 

 attack by water, while we attack by land." 1 

 Schuyler did not trust his red allies, who, however, 

 seem on this occasion to have meant what they 

 said. He lost no time in sending commissioners to 

 urge the several governments of New England to 

 a combined attack on the French. 



New England needed no prompting to take up 

 arms ; for she presently learned to her cost that, 

 though feeble and prostrate, Canada could sting. 

 The war-party which attacked Schenectady was, as 

 we have seen, but one of three which Frontenac 

 had sent against the English borders. The second, 

 aimed at New Hampshire, left Three Rivers on the 

 twenty-eighth of January, commanded by Francois 



1 Propositions made by the Sachems of y e . Maquase {Mohawk) Castles to 

 y e . Mayor, Aldermen, and Commonality of y e . Citty of Albany, y e . 25 day of 

 february, 1690, in Doc. Hist. N. Y., II. 164-169. 



